From the blog

Interview: Diane Pernet of ASVOF

Diane Pernet, founder of the internationally read fashion blog ASVOF and the benchmark fashion & film festival, ASVOFF, dishes about Paris, her iconic style and the one woman who has influenced her work.

In an industry where wearing black is the norm, there is only one woman who could be recognized for her unique daily commitment to this very color. Diane Pernet, the voice of the conceptual fashion blog, A Shaded View of Fashion (ASVOF), stands out among any crowd, for her signature style of a towering black chiffon veil, black sunglasses, and flowing black skirt.

Trained as a fashion designer in the 80s in New York, Diane then made the move to Paris, her home now for over 20 years, and where her editorial career has boomed. Even before her days in fashion, Diane was a film major at Temple Univeristy, where her knowledge on the subject where she now focuses her energy began. In addition to her fashion and editorial backgrounds, Diane is the founder of the international film festival, ASVOFF, for which she scouts some of the best emerging talent in the world.

Between her insanely busy schedule of planning fashion & film festivals around the globe, Diane was able to give me a quick look into the life of one of the icons of the fashion industry.

What first brought you to Paris?

The state of the city of NYC at that time. It was crime ridden and most of my neighborhood in the West Village were either sick or dying. It was not an inspiring atmosphere for me to live in. I thought that if I wanted to stay in fashion my choices were London, Milan or Paris. I chose Paris.

Where do you feel most at home in Paris?

In my neighborhood, which is close to the Eiffel tower. If you need a location, I’d say les Deux Abeilles, a tea salon on rue de l’universite in the 7eme.

What are the current projects you’re working on?

Most of my time is focused on my fashion film festival: ASVOFF. Right now we are trying to sort something out for Cannes next month, I have to put together the program for ASVOFF Milan during mens week in June, right before Milan ASVOFF will go to Belarus, I also have to put together the programming for ASVOFF in Vienna at Frame Out in July and possibly taking ASVOFF to Sao Paulo in August. Aside from that we have a lot of work to do on the planning of ASVOFF 5 which will launch in Paris Nov 9, 10 & 11th at Centre Pompidou. Nov 16 17 & 18th ASVOFF 5 will go to Tokyo and in the meantime I’m working on a book.

Where does your iconic style come from?

It is just something organic that evolved over the years.

Who is one woman who has been a great influence on you?

Kelly Cutrone, she is my hero. She is strong, bright as a tack and has a heart. I adore her and have enormous respect for her as a woman and as a power in the industry.